The US Supreme Court ruled today that, when school districts try to
maintain racial diversity, they must be "color blind." It's another
5-to-4 split decision on an issue with far-reaching implications. What does that say about the Roberts Court? Also, immigration reform is of the table, and the Bald Eagle is off the "endangered" list but what about other species?

FROM THIS EPISODE

The US Supreme Court ruled today that, when school districts try to maintain racial diversity, they must be "color blind." It's another 5-to-4 split decision on an issue with far-reaching implications. Under Chief Justice John Roberts, is the court making history or raising more questions than it answers? Also, support for the immigration bill comes up short and, on Reporter's Notebook, the Bald Eagle is no longer "endangered." What about other species?

In 1967, there were just 417 breeding pairs of Bald Eagles in America, despite that bird's iconic status. Today, there are more than 10,000, evidence of what the Audubon Society calls "one of the greatest conservation success stories in US history. At the Jefferson Memorial today, a Bald Eagle was part of the proceedings as the species was officially removed from the endangered list. Kieran Suckling is policy director at the Center for Biological Diversity in Arizona.

In 1954, US Supreme Court ruled--without a dissenting vote--that racial segregation in public schools violated the Constitution. The Court's unanimity was considered a great achievement by the new Chief Justice, Earl Warren--and a major factor in driving the subsequent integration of schools. Today, the US Supreme Court ruled 5 to 4 that schools cannot consider race in trying to maintain racial diversity. School districts nationwide could be affected by a split decision with Bush appointees Samuel Alito and Chief Justice John Roberts on the winning side. In dissent, Stephen Breyer said, "This is a decision the nation and the court will come to regret." We consider the first term of the Roberts Court, and whether its record of 5-to-4 decisions will make history or leave major issues more muddled than ever.

Senate Republicans today killed what may be President Bush's last hope for immigration reform in his presidency. Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina said the bill had become "a war" between Americans and their government. In a brief but pointed reaction, President Bush called the status quo in immigration "unacceptable" and called on Congress to "prove to the American people that it can come together on hard issues." Jonathan Weisman covers Congress for the Washington Post.